GoLightWeight

This Bag Could Save Your Life.

Jeff’s 10lbs bag is a basic earthquake survival bag. It contains a thermal, t-shirt, duct tape, rope, shoes, socks, multi-tool, beef jerky, jeans, hat, coat hanger, jacket, water, gloves, map, rain poncho, masks, sun glasses, radio, survival whistle, pen, sharpie, instructional book, contact book, first aid kit, cash, signal mirror, bathroom items, power bars, lighter, bar of soap, and a spare watch.

I’m one step closer to having my Dream Camper Rig, but I have a long way to go. I now own a Ford Econoline van from 1987, complete with a 4×4 conversion. As far as camping goes, the inside is bare metal and that doesn’t hold up well in the winter. One of my first tasks is to find a heating solution. While you can find 12 volt heaters, they’ll destroy your battery in no time. For efficient heating in remote locations, natural gas is the way to go. So far, my research has yielded two approaches for gas heat.

The first is radiant heat. The most highly recommended solution I’ve seen for radiant heat is the Mr Heater model for around $100. This is a quick and easy approach to get heat in your camper or tent on the quick. Additionally, it’s a portable solution so you can use it for different tasks. You can use store bought canisters or run a hose to a larger fuel supply. Additionally, you can pick up an adapter to refill those store bought tanks. Safety features include auto shutoff if the heater falls over or if too much CO2 is detected in the air – making this a relatively safe heater.

Mr Heater comes with some draw backs. Even with the safety features, you have an extremely hot exposed surface that creates a certain level of risk. It would probably be best if you don’t fall asleep while the heater is on. Additionally, you have to have a good place to put Mr Heater. Even though the design is very compact, it takes up a fair amount of space.

As an alternative to radiant heat, a safer solution is a forced air furnace. Adventure Trailer’s Heatsource is an excellent looking solution. So far, this is the smallest and most efficient solution I’ve found. I’ve read that the typical furnace only reaches 60% efficiency; however, AT claims a delightful 90+%! Even better, with thermostat controls, you can leave your heater running all night long while you catch your Zs.

This convenience comes at a price that’s uncomfortably close to a grand. While the smallest model is $750, you still have to factor in your fuel source. The other minor draw back is the lack of Mr Heater’s portability. You won’t be able to carry this heater into your tent or garage Depending on your needs, this might not matter.

Solar panels frustrate me. It seems like size, cost, and efficiency are at that tipping point where they’re almost practical, but not. Given the rapid evolution of solar technology, it’s just a matter of time. Perhaps, that time is near.

I just spotted Regen ReNu’s new “Power Hotspot” over on Engadget. This isn’t the microwave sized device that will power your house. We’re not there yet. However, this fairly portable device is great for recharging anything with a battery. From the press release:

At work, the Power HotSpot™ can recharge tools, notebooks and cell phones, or provide power to inverters for AC power. At home, it can power a shed or gazebo light, an aerator or fountain. And for recreation, the Power HotSpot™ brings convenience to the campsite, from re-charging lights to continuous play for radios and iPods to running boat aerators and re-recharging batteries on a dock.

One thing I don’t see on their website just yet… A price!

What is it about being a nomad that inspires us? We like the idea of being on the move while still taking enough of our stuff with us to be completely empowered. Very few toys appeal to that sense as strongly as just the right camper. For the past few weeks, I’ve been trying to find the right camper for my life. I want something agile, so the full size RV is out.  I also want something that I can use in the winter and take off road.  Let me take you on a tour of what I’ve found.

Earth Roamer

The first Earth Roamer I discovered was the XV-LT. These camping rigs are built on a full sized truck frame and designed to go anywhere. These units look amazing and have tons of features. It’s an efficient camper that can handle adverse conditions well. I could take this rig on snowboarding trips and star warm and comfortable all night long. I could also take it up challenging jeep trails here in the mountains and get well away from the usual crowds. Unfortunately, these things cost a small fortune. A new rig can cost you up to a quarter million dollars. You can occasionally find them used, but they still demand a premium.

I also looked at the XV-LT’s little brother, the XV-JP. Built on a Jeep Wrangler frame instead of a truck, this little guy is considerably more efficient and agile. Even if I could afford the $110k price tag, this unit doesn’t solve all of my problems. The sleeping arrangements come in the form of a pop-open tent on the roof. As clever as this is, it won’t keep me warm in the winter.

Westfalia Vanagon

The Westfalia conversion of the Vanagon makes for a very nice little camper. I recently test drove a model that was lifted with four wheel drive. The engine was upgraded for a horse power boost. Inside, the van had sleeping arrangements for 4, with two in the pop top. It had a double burner stove, sink, outdoor shower, water heater, and heater. This van was nearly perfect. It would keep me warm on the slopes (with the top closed and heater on) and get me deep into the woods in the summer. The entire vehicle ran about $18, a far cray from the triple digit costs of the Earth Roamers.

I didn’t buy the Vanagon. The owner was kind enough to give me an extensive education on ownership of the coveted vehicles. These units are old. They require a lot of attention. While they are reliable, they have to be maintained. In addition, these units are also difficult to insure. The owner was only paying for liability because he could not find a good policy to cover his rig. Ultimately, I just didn’t feel this vehicle could give me the reliability and freedom I really wanted. Still, I really like rigs. I wish something similar was being made today.

Sportsmobile

Imagine the Vanagon all grown up. I actually discovered the Sportsmobile in person and didn’t realize it at the time. These rigs are built using full size cargon vans, many of them converted for off road use. The engine, suspension, and drivetrain are comparible to that of the Earth Roamer. However, the camper design is much more akin to  the Vanagon – only bigger.

I love these vans. Like the Vanagon, they go to hard to reach places. However, these are built on modern American vehicles. They’re newer, more reliable, and cheaper to maintain. It’s also a slight bit easier to find insurance for them. Unfortunately, they can be expensive. I’ve found good rigs for around $40k. The rigs that excite me the most are usually anywhere from $85k to $115k. Many people build their own, saving a bit of money along the way.

I’m still considering one of these rigs. However, one big drawback is the weight and the poor gas mileage that results. Most rigs see 12 to 15 miles per gallon. The turbo diesels, particularly the Sprinter based ones, get up to 22mpg. I would feel better about taking one of these things to Alaska if I could get 20+ mpg.

Camplite Quicksilver

Nino and I started talking about building out our own van. In the process, I started researching lightweight materials. That’s when I found the Camplite Quicksilver. I’d already looked at the Scamp, which is kind of neat; but ruled the Scamp out because I didn’t want something I had to tow up challenging trails. Still, the Camplite trailers got my attention because of their building materials. These rigs are ultralight because they are made with aluminum and synthetics. There’s no wood in any of their campers. This makes them extremely light.

I’ve looked for these trailers and they’re not very common in the US. I haven’t been able to get a solid idea of how much they cost. They’re full of brilliant ideas, like making the sleeping/sitting benches double as coolers or storage containers. They also come out of the RV if you want to setup a picnic table outside. I think Sportsmobile could learn a thing or two from this company.

My Dream Rig (Right Now)

I think I know what I want, if I can find it somewhere. Most of the Sportsmobiles are built on longer or larger vans. I want a small but full sized van. A shorter wheel base and good departure angle will help when offroading. Obviously, I want a good 4×4 drive train and elevated suspension. I want a powerful and efficient engine, such as the 7.3l turbodiesel that Ford used to provide.

Inside, I need the standard fair: sink, small stove, heater, holding tanks, water heater, 110 power sources, battery system, sleeping space, sitting space, etc. I would like this to be as light and effective as possible, which means I may have to design and built it myself. Using lightweight materials should improve my mileage. Additionally, plastics would be easy to hose down and flexible under stress where wood will decay and break down over time.

I need space to store bikes, kayaks, surf boards, and snowboards. This doesn’t all have to be at the same time, but that would be nice. I want class 3 receivers front and rear. This allows me to carry a whench that can be swapped out on either end of the rig if I get stuck. Additionally, I’d like to mount a motorcycle hauler on the rear receiver. Attaching a dual sport bike would give me efficient and agile transportation when I need to run after supplies or go exploring.

I’m still trying to find or build the dream camper. When I find what I’m looking for, I’ll be sure to share.

Mat Honan posted his gear for a Nicaragua trip to flickr, check it out. Great addition to the “What’s In The Bag” series.

Burning Man Gear

Seaotter22 psoted her core burning man gear. I thought it made a fabulous addition to the “Whats In The Bag” section. Burning Man is a unique event with unique needs. One fundamental component of Burning Man is “radical self reliance.” Here you will find people who want to survive and thrive in a relatively challenging environment. Everything you pack in, you must back out. The event is “leave no trace”, meaning the group leaves absolutely nothing behind. Bring enough to survive, but bring nothing more than you’re willing to take responsibility for. Definitely a go lightweight event. Click the image above to explore all the items in the photo.

Amazon Kindle 2

The promise of e-books took a long time to truly manifest. I’ve long pulled large bits of reading material down to a portable device suchas my n800 for reading on the go. However, this method comes with a few drawbacks. First, there’s a technology hurdle most folks may not want to endure. Second, the solution is technically sloppy. By sloppy, I mean I am using a device with a relatively low resolution color screen to read basic text. On top of that, the device uses a fairly large amount of power – meaning I won’t finish War and Peace before the battery dies.

Things have changed and there now exists a powerful solution for E-Books: Amazon’s Kindle. At just over $350, the device is a bit expensive. However, for the money, you get an amazing tool. The screen is high resolution so the text looks clean. The tech works in such a way that you use very little battery power. There are hundreds of thousands of books availble. Best of all, the device is very easy to use. So if you want a lightweight way of taking and entire library of books with you, the Kindle is the way to go.

But wait, there’s more. Rumor has it, the Kindle 2 is on the way. In little more than a week, you can enjoy the next generation of this snazzy device. What I find more exciting is the way the technology may be impacting our culture – at least in Greece. George Papandreou seems to think it would be a swell idea to repalce school text books with these devices. This seems like one of the best ideas I’ve heard in a long time. Hey Obama, are you listening?

Andy over at Digital Nomads wrote a post titled “My Essential Executive Travel Gear.” With the same “what’s in the bag” feel of Sassy’s recent post on the Apocolypse Belt of Joy, Andy takes us on a journey of the gear he takes on the road. My personal favorite item has to be the happy face buttons. Thanks Andy!

I first spotted a carabiner mug clipped to a stranger’s pack at a social gathering in the woods. When I ran across the same mugs in a hardware store later, I picked one up. You can find them around the internet for less than 8 or 9 bucks. I don’t recall what I paid for mine, but I believe it was even less.

The cup is simply a stainless steel double layer (air inbetween the layers) cup with a carabiner attached to the side. I’ve seen some with the carabiner soldiered on, but mine was attached using two small screws.

I frequently clip my cup to my packs for both urban and primitive trips. I’ve sipped morning coffee from my cup more than once. I also found another extremely useful place for this cup – Burning Man and related gatherings. Oftne times, at these events, folks provide free beverages; however, you’re expected to bring a cup.

The carabiner itself can be pretty useful. If you find yourself needing one more carabiner to clip something to your pack with – just use your cup! It seems like such a simple little solution, and it is… but wow, I’ve found it very useful.

I was at one of my favorite gear shop / army surplus stories the other day and I ran across the neatest little multi-tool I’ve seen in a while. Under the glass counter, they had a Guppie and a Lil’ Guppie by Columbia River. Both were amazing, but the Lil’ Guppie (shown in the photo with this post) impressed me the most.

The Lil’ Guppie is under 2oz and is extremely compact. It sports a flathead, phillips, knife, c-wrench, bottle opener, and handy little holes and clips all over it. Guppie, the big brother, has a slightly broader range of tools and sports replaceable driver bits and an led flashlight. Both tools are made of high quality metals and are both strong and lightweight.

Personally, the only reason I didn’t snag one immediately is the c-wrench. I currently have a multi-tool with a c-wrench that I rarely use. Typically, I find pliers to be more universally useful. This is more of a “what do I typically do” concern. As such, if you find yourself handling a lot of nuts, this is an excellent lightweight tool.